Gill, Schatz in line to lead Reds

The Queensland Reds appear set to back one of their youngest two forwards to lead them into the 2013 Super Rugby season.

While the NSW Waratahs are mulling over a new skipper to replace Rocky Elsom, to be named on February 6, the Reds have a captaincy dilemma of their own.

With general Will Genia (knee) sidelined and Test skipper James Horwill (hamstring) battling to be fit in time, young guns Liam Gill and Jake Schatz are leading contenders to start the year as captain.

Backrowers Gill, 20, and Schatz, 22, are both highly rated by Reds director of coaching Ewen McKenzie and each have experience captaining Australia's Under-20 teams to Junior World Cups.

McKenzie remains hopeful Horwill will return in the Reds second and last trial against 2012 championship-winning Chiefs on February 8 and take the reins for their first-round clash with the Brumbies a week later.

But even if he does, the appointment of his deputy holds importance with Wallabies lock Horwill unlikely to be an immediate 80-minute player after nine months on the sidelines.

McKenzie has yet to decide but has named a handful of contenders who could start as captain for the opening pre-season trial against the Blues in Toowoomba on February 2.

"It's a good question," he told AAP.

"We'll get down to the team we pick and have a look and see who's out there.

"Ben Daley has captained us in trials before and (Adam) Wallace-Harrison has done that role and then you look down and see that Gill was the Australian 20's captain (in 2012) and Schatz was the 20s captain (2010) so there's a bunch of guys in there."

"We'll see how James is travelling. We think he's going to be pretty close; he's tracking pretty well.

"We're hoping he'll play trials but it might just be the second one."

Prop Daley, 24, is also highly regarded but he faces a tough battle to start ahead of Greg Holmes to start in the front-row.

Likewise, veteran second-rower Wallace-Harrison, vice-captain behind Genia last year once Horwill was injured, is set to return to the bench.

Five-eighth Quade Cooper will continue to call the playmaking shots which is seen as enough responsibility.

Despite their youth, openside flanker Gill and the versatile Schatz - both Wallabies squad-members in 2012 - have shown maturity beyond their years in their short careers.

The pair is certain to make two-thirds of Queensland's 2013 back-row with the rangy Ed Quirk eying the third spot left vacant by Wallabies No.8 Scott Higginbotham, who has switched to the Melbourne Rebels.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.